Mission

Story Parlor is a multi-disciplinary arts space dedicated to storytelling and the exploration of the human condition, for the community and by the community. Committed to impacting positive change through the transformative power of storytelling through all art mediums, Story Parlor champions the artists of Western North Carolina through events, classes, community building, and advocacy. 

Core Values + Objectives

• Connect audiences and artists from varying creative backgrounds and interests

• Inform, inspire, and invigorate through the arts

• Promote and foster self-inquiry and mindfulness

• Cultivate creative exchange and cultural insight

• Foster authenticity and inclusiveness

What We Are

Story
“We're all made of stories. When they finally put us underground, the stories are what will go on. Not forever, perhaps, but for a time. It's a kind of immortality, I suppose, bounded by limits, it's true, but then so's everything.”
— Charles de Lint

Parlor
From the French verb “parle” which means “to speak,” a parlor is traditionally a room used for the reception and entertainment of guests. 

storytelling through art
—

Located in West Asheville, Story Parlor serves as a home to the creative community by offering events and workshops that explore storytelling through all art disciplines, while also providing a space for folks to further bring alive their own artistic pursuits.

Our origin story dates back to 2015 in Austin, Texas, with the launch of Story Bar—a vagabond arts initiative with the mission of connecting artists and audiences through multi-disciplinary programming. After five years of showcasing the stories of poets, actors, musicians, writers, dancers, visual artists, and other performers, Story Bar’s chapter in Austin came to a close. In 2022, the organization rebranded as Story Parlor, opening its doors in Asheville with the continued goal of fostering creative exchange.

We are all creative, and we all have a story to tell, and Story Parlor exists to bridge these two universal truths together. Dedicated to cultivating an environment that nurtures expression, experience, and mindfulness, Story Parlor is unwavering in its investigation of identity, culture, and humanity. 

Who We Are

Erin Hallagan Clare
Founder/Artistic Director

Matthew Clare
Partner


The Story Board

Erin Hallagan Clare

Mildred Barya

Gina Cornejo

Michael-Jamar Jean Francois

Timothy Hearn

Alli Marshall

Natalie McCann

Ali McGhee

Jasmin Pittman Morrell

Starr Sariego

Christopher Thomas

Nina Hart (Emeritus)

>> The Story Board <<

What We Do

Events + Gatherings
Classes/Workshops
Community Opportunities
Story Parlor Hour